Matriculation Examination

The Matriculation Examination is held at two levels: Advanced (AM) Level and Intermediate (IM) Level. The Examination is offered in a wide range of subjects as follows:

*offered at Intermediate level only | † offered at Advanced level only

Choice of Subjects

Candidates are required to choose:

• one subject chosen from each of Groups 1, 2, and 3
• two other subjects chosen from Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4
• Systems of Knowledge.

Two of the six subjects must be at Advanced Level, three other subjects at Intermediate Level and Systems of Knowledge.

Any subject may be chosen but the following restrictions apply for the award of the Matriculation Certificate:

• No subject may be presented at both Advanced and Intermediate Levels;
• Not more than two of Accounting, Economics, and Marketing may be presented;
• Classical Studies may not be presented with Latin or Greek;
• Environmental Science may not be presented with IM and AM Biology, Chemistry, or Physics;
• Computing may not be presented with Information Technology;
• Engineering Drawing may not be presented with Graphical Communication; and
• No subject may be taken at both Advanced and Intermediate Levels and in the Secondary Education Certificate (SEC) Levels in the same session of examinations.

Examination Sessions

There are two Examination Sessions: the First Session is held during the period April to June and the Second Session is held in September of each year.

First Session

Candidates may sit for as many subjects of the Matriculation Examination at Intermediate and Advanced Levels as they wish.

Second Session

Candidates may sit for a maximum of six subjects as follows: 

• Any one subject at Advanced level; and
• Any one subject from Group 1 at Intermediate level; and
• Any one subject from Group 2 at Intermediate level; and
• Any one subject from Group 3 at Intermediate level; and
• Any one subject from Group 4 at Intermediate level; and
• Systems of Knowledge.

Candidates may sit for examinations at the Second Session irrespective of whether they registered for the First Session or not.

Award of the Matriculation Certificate

To qualify for the Certificate, candidates must pass the examinations taken within a period of five years from the first sitting of any examination offered within the Examination. The Certificate shall be awarded to candidates who sit for one subject chosen from each of Groups 1, 2, 3 and Systems of Knowledge and two other subjects chosen from Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4; and two of the six subjects must be at Advanced Level, three other subjects at Intermediate Level and Systems of Knowledge; and obtain a pass in at least one of the subjects offered from each of Groups 1, 2 and 3, and a pass in Systems of Knowledge; and a minimum of 44 grade points obtained as a total from the results awarded in six subjects.

Candidates who sit for three or more subjects at Advanced Level shall be entitled to have one or more of the results of these subjects considered as substitutes for one or more of the Intermediate Level subjects as outlined under ‘Choice of Subjects’. In such cases, the subject or subjects that are substituted shall be considered as Intermediate Level passes, grade for grade, for the purpose of calculating the number of grade points. Candidates shall be required to inform the MATSEC Board in writing which subject/s they wish to be substituted.

Candidates who satisfy all the criteria shall be awarded the Matriculation Certificate on the basis of the best results obtained. The Matriculation Certificate shall be issued once only and it shall indicate that the candidate has satisfied the criteria for the award.

Grade points shall be awarded for all subjects passed, up to a total of 100 grade points, as follows:

Further information may be obtained from:  www.um.edu.mt/matsec |  +356 2340 2815/2241

The information contained herein is intended for guidance purposes only and is a reflection of the Matriculation Examination Regulations and approved administrative practices currently in force. However, for the purposes of interpretation of this information, said Regulations shall prevail.